The Problem Is You Won't Repent by Tim — Tim Conway

Seeking Life from the Giver of Life

Has been saying, like, I just feel dead, no, I can't repent, or I'm trying to repent. You know what I'm talking about, what's going on a lot? Is it OK to tell them, I don't know if what I'm telling someone is like, pray for regenerated heart, but I tell them, like, if you feel dead, go to the life giver who, you know, raises the dead?

Like, is that the same thing as saying, well, go pray to God that you'll be alive?

Unwillingness Behind the Claim of Inability

Well, see, the problem with the people that say that they can't repent is the real issue is they won't repent. Again, you know what, don't even cater and coddle people that say, I can't repent. Because again, you know what they've done?

Blaming God for Unrepentance

They've shifted the blame. You know what they're effectually saying? I want to repent if I could, I have a will to repent, I have a desire to repent, and I would if God would let me. He's the problem.

He's not letting me repent. I would, my intention's good, God is bad. Now they won't say it that way, but that's really what they mean. That's really what they're saying. Listen, the Bible says repent.

Self-Righteous Repentance and Attempts to Control God

That's what it is. Guarantee it. What they're saying is, God won't take me on my terms. They're saying, I want to manufacture repentance of my own making. I'm not willing to turn from everything. And in fact, a lot of times it's just a self-righteousness where they're trying to work out a repentance.

They're trying to make God save them. Rather than when Peter's sinking, it's just, Lord, help. Rather than just in utter helplessness crying out to Christ. They don't feel utterly helpless. They're like, okay, I'm going to clean my life up.

Human Effort Versus Helpless Surrender

Look, Lord, look what I've done. I've tried to make myself pretty, and He's not saving me. Look at these things I've given up. Sometimes what they're not giving up is their own self-righteousness. They want to manipulate God.

They want to make God their debtor. In other words, they want to put God in a place where He has to save them. Rather than coming absolutely helpless, absolutely hopeless, and just crying out for help, falling totally incapacitated into His hands.

Pastoral Frustration and the Sinner's Resistance

Man is bent on offering something. And don't you believe it? And I know it's hard. It's hard as a pastor. You get the people coming to you. You were one of them. You get these people coming to you and they're all distressed and sometimes they're in tears and they're so frustrated.

And I'm trying to repent, but I can't. And it can get the person that's trying to minister to the person feeling frustrated with God. Like, Lord, they want to and You're not doing this. And see, you don't want to let the sinner turn.

God's Sovereignty and the Universal Command to Repent

Because I'll tell you this, look, this does not conflict with God's sovereignty at all. Is it God's desire that men repent? Yes. How do I know? Because He commanded all men everywhere to repent. If He commanded them everywhere to repent, then it's His desire that they repent.

And the fact is, what can I say to the sinner? I repented, so it's possible. I want you to repent. God commands you to repent. He wants you to repent. Jesus Christ came preaching, repent. He wants you to repent.

The Trinity's Call and the Sinner's Unwillingness

And the Spirit of God inspired the Word over and over. It says repent. Certainly He wants you to repent. And the fact is, the Trinity calls upon man to repent. I'm calling upon you to repent. Many people here have repented.

And you're telling me you can't. Well, what I'm telling you is you won't. The real problem is, the sinner won't. And I guarantee you every single time, you can trace it back to self-righteousness. Always.

Always.